Handle assembly for utensils



p 1950 R. N. KIRCHER 2,521,463

HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR UTENSILS Fild March 14, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY 1 "Ralph N. Kircher, West Bend, Wis., assignor to a West Bend Aluminum 00., West Bend, Wis., a

This invention relates to improvements: in handle sockets Tor-utensils and to th 'niethod of connectingftheml tothef utensils. f

'The""conventional method of combining the non-metallic handle and an ''alur'ninui'n'utensil comprises riveting an aluminum die-cast socket tothe container. Such construction is undesirable because the rivets hear the "smooth surface of the interior of'the' container, spoil-"the appearance of the utensil, and make. it harderi to clean;

- corporationofwisconsin v m gfi fi Marni @1946, Serial No. 654,448,

-; gc i s; (Cl;16--110) holding rod l3 and held by a handle-holding Hut [5 threadedlyinterconnected with the rod [3. The socket [I is first coined orcold-pressed in one operation from a'slug of aluminum alloy of A,. inch thickness, or even greater, depending upon the desired size of the boss 26 and projection 25. Extreme pressure is used, and the socket One ofthe objects. .of.this invention, therefore, is to provide a method'by'which a handle socketoam be attached to a sheet aluminum container without marring thesmooth surface of its interior.

1 Another 'object of the invention is toprovide a handle socket for a utensil which is' neat -in appearance, strong, and-economical to 'manufacture' and assemble to the container. 3 e f F These objects are accomplished'by firstmaking: a handle socket which is 'c'old-pres'se'd' from slugs of sheet w aluminum. -Ithas a s'eo'uririg flange shaped totheouter form ,of the container and is provided'with'a non-circular projection whichmay engage a spacer or neck. The socket so made is then spot-welded to the sheet aluminum container. As there isno di'fiiculty in'spotwelding sheet aluminum to sheet aluminum there will be no marring of the interior of the utensil and a good but inexpensive handle socket is obtained.

The novel features, which are consideredcharacteristic of the invention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, howeven'both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which: I

Figure 1 is an exploded view in perspective of the socket and non-metallic handle embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the socket and handle assembled in position on a container; and 1 Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. v

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, the socket H is shown attached to an aluminum container I0. Such vessel is pressed 'from sheet aluminum consisting of such alloys H is providedwith a flange shapedto conform with the shape of the container to which it is to be attached." At the same time the socket ll is provided with a boss 26 and a recess 24. The recess 24,.when used, is formed on the containercon'ironting face and is of sufficient size to receive' within its confines the'heador bent-over end I! of the handle-holding member l3 and prevent rotation of said member.- The outer face ofthe boss 2B'is provided with a rectangular or other non-circular shaped projection 25 which is adapted to engage and mate with the neck l2 to prevent relative rotation therebetween. An apertureJ-G is piercedor. drilled through the boss 26 and projection I5 to receive the rod [3. The alloy composition of the'slug of sheet aluminum from which the socket is formed is such as to permit it to Proprly 'fuse in thespot weldin process; a I

In "one embodimenathe rod 13 is headed at its inner end. This head may take the form of a lateral projection I! which is of sufiicient size to be included within the confines of the recess 24 and engage the walls of such recess to prevent rotation of said rod. However, other types of head may be used if they are small enough to be fully included in the recess 24. In this case, the rod I3 is first inserted through the aperture IS with its head I! resting in the recess 24 and its shank extending laterally of the socket H. The socket H is held in clamped position against the outside wall of the container l0 and is spot Welded at its corners, as indicated at l8.- The spot welding process fuses the metal of the socket with metal of the container without marring or deforming the smooth surface of the interior of the latter.

After the socket H is welded to the container, the spacer I2 is placed over the rod 13 and fitted over the projection 25 to prevent its turning. In the embodiment shown, the neck or spacer I 2 is cut from extruded aluminum tubing of rectangular cross-sectional shape. The interior is of sufficient size to snugly fit over the projection 25.

If the nrojection25 takes another non-circular shape than rectangular, then the spacer I2 is shaped to mate with it in order to prevent any relative rotation occurring therebetween.

The non-metallic handle I4 is provided with 9,

of the non-metallic handle when the latter is assembled in place. A threaded nut l5, ..pl,o

vided with a projection 2| adaptedt'o fit within the opening I9, is threaded on the rod 2 3 and presses against the outer end of the handle id to hold the handle and spacer rigidly assembled:

to the base plate H. The handle Mis provided at its inner upper end with 'a thumb-engaging mound 22 which prevents the hand of thenser from sliding into contact with the metallic portions of the socket. 7

Although only one embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it will be understood that this application is intended to cover such changes or modifications as eome within the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1-. A handle assembly adapted .for attachment to a container made of sheet aluminum, compris ing a base plate formed of sheet aluminum and having a flange, said base plate having "a socket with a non ci-rcular recess in its container confronting side, "an opening through thebase plate, a h'andlem-olding member positioned in the opening :and extending therefrom, said member being shaped at its inner end and cooperating with the walls or the recess to restrict rotational movement of the member whereby said basepl-ate and member may be assembled and said flange spot welded to said container before "complete asseinbly, fanaluminum spacer neck fitted over the member and engaging the socket, a non-metallic handle :fitte'd over said member and'having a 2. A handle assembly adapted for attachment to a container made of sheet aluminum, comprising, a base plate formed of sheet aluminum and having a flange shaped to fit flush against the side of said container, said base plate having a non-circular projection with a non-circular recess in',its container confronting side, an openiing fthiioiigh fthe-base'plat, i1 lioltlirigmember positioned in the opening and extending therefrom, said member having an inner end within said recess cooperating with the walls thereof to restrict rotational movement of said member whereby said member may be positioned in said base plate prior. to attachment of said assembly to permit "said flange to be spot-Welded to said containerpanaluminum spacer neck fitted over and engaging said non-circular projection to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a nonmetallic handle having a tenon fitted within said neck to prevent relative rotation between said handle and neck, and threaded means engaging seat engaging the neck; andthreaded'nieaiis engaging the member and the handle to holdthe handle and neck tightly against said so'cket.

said holding member and said handle to hold said handle and neck tightly against said noncircular projection. M

RALPH N. K'IRCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED :STATES nirrnnrs Name Date 1 42,522 'Wl11i3m'S": Apr; 26', 1864 1,306,100 Chadwick :10, 1919 1,403,232 Collard Jan. 10, 1922 1,549,195 Greenberg- 'Azug.,1'-11, 1925 1,606,833 Grover Nov. .16, 1-326 1,788,817 Wilson et a1. Jan. 13;, 1931 1,809,060 Nelson et al. June :9, 1931 FOREIGN PATENT s Number? Country 525 ;830 France .Sept. 28,, .1921

France -1 

